Place Name
William Borradaile (10 July 1792 – February 16, 1838) vicar of Wandsworth in the 1830s, who killed himself, while still rector “in a fit of temporary derangement” by jumping off Vauxhall Bridge. Borradaile, the name of the street is misspelt, had been an amateur cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1815 to 1832. Mainly associated with Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), he made appearances in first-class matches playing for the Gentlemen in the 1832 Gentlemen v Players match. In 1938, The Morning Post reported: “The village of Wandsworth has been thrown into a state of great excitement within the last few days on account of the Minister of the parish, the Rev. Mr Borradaile, having destroyed himself. It would appear that the unhappy gentleman, who had been for many years resident in the parish, and who is almost universally respected, had for some time exhibited an appearance of despondency and melancholy for which no satisfactory reason appeared to exist; but still not the slightest suspicion was entertained of his meditating self-destruction. On Friday morning, between eleven and twelve o’clock, he left his residence at Wandsworth and proceeded in the direction of London. He then, it appears, got upon one of the Wandsworth stages, from which he alighted at the Vauxhall Gate, at about twelve o’clock. He immediately proceeded to the Vauxhall Bridge, and when he got to the centre arch on the Surrey side, he deliberately, disembarrassed himself of his cloak and hat, which he laid upon the footpath, and he then mounted upon the balustrades of the bridge and plunged into the river. There were no passengers upon the bridge at the time; but some scavengers, who were employed in sweeping at some distance, observed the proceeding, and they immediately gave the alarm, and several watermen put off instantly. Owing, however, to the state of the River at the time, all their exertions were fruitless, the unhappy gentleman was never seen after he made the fatal plunge. The cloak and hat were picked up on the bridge, the latter containing the name of the unfortunate gentleman in the lining, which enabled the parties to communicate with his friends. The lady of the unfortunate deceased had been staying at Worthing for some time, and when the melancholy intelligence was made known to her the shock to her feelings may be easily imagined but would be difficult indeed to describe.” As well as a widow he left four children. His body was found five weeks later close to the south bank of Westminster Bridge. It was later revealed he grew increasingly depressed after a man he had put up surety for had defaulted. His death became the centre of a long-running legal battle, when insurers fought to get back the £1,000 pay out to widow. The case centred on whether Borradaile was capable of judging between right and wrong when he jumped from the bridge – after many years and appeals, it was decided he could not and the case was dismissed.
